Faith in Sports

Inside Sports writer Hubbard (Shark Among Dolphins) promises more than he delivers in this survey of the most religious sports figures. In covering the growing phenomenon of athletes who have gone public with their Christian faith, the author also cites instances of Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist adherents in the sports world. The first third of the book is an assemblage of short notes about famous athletes' religions, taken from magazines and newspapers. Some of these seem forced to fit the mold--e.g., the reference to a 1996 Sports Illustrated article on Evander Holyfield, Brendan Shanahan and Steffi Graf, noting that ""all mention God."" There follows a chapter on ""true faith,"" citing many of the most ardent Christian and Muslim believers like Tunch Ilkin, former lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Terrell Buckley, a cornerback for the Miami Dolphins. Another chapter deals with ""false faith,"" wherein Hubbard turns somewhat evasive about Promise Keepters founder Bill McCartney, who, when he was the University of Coloradso football coach, insisted his players attend prayer meetings until the ACLU intervened. Then there is a chapter on the way faith is said to have worked miracles in the lives of former cancer patients like Brett Butler and Paul Azinger. Curiously, the same figures keep recurring in the book; still, sports fans not dismayed by this linking of sports with religion may enjoy it. (Mar.)